Hirtenkäse is traditionally handmade in the Allgäu mountain region in the South of Germany. Hirtenkäse is a rustic and savory hard cheese. It is an authentic mountain cheese with a rugged, earthy aroma.
The rich cow's milk for the Hirtenkäse comes from mountain farmers. Their cows graze in elevations of at least 2600 feet. Our farmers have only about 12 - 15 cows per farm, so they are well cared for, which will result in wonderful, rich milk. The cows enjoy the fragrant grasses on alpine meadows in the summer and spend the winters in their cozy barn, eating aromatic hay. In mid September there is a big festival in the Allgäu. The lead cow is decoreated with flowers and she is herd down from the mountains to the barn. That's where the name Hirtenkäse comes from. It is German for ‘herdsman’s cheese’.
Hirtenkäse won two gold medals at the World Cheese Awards in London, England in 2005.
We cut and wrap this cheese in wedges of 8 ounces and 1 pound. Don't be surprised when this cheese arrives in crumbles as at times it may be crumbling while cutting.